Robin has spent 28 years in operational, research and consulting roles in the mining sector. Robin now leads Wood Mackenzie’s markets analysis for metals and mined commodities. Robin joined Wood Mackenzie in 2003 and initially spent considerable time in both coal consulting and research roles. Consulting assignments included project due diligence, market assessments, price forecasting and coal procurement. An integral part of the research team since 2007, Robin has undertaken global mine cost estimation and supply analysis for both coal and base metals. Robin joined the coal markets team in 2012 and until 2021 was responsible for metallurgical coal markets analysis. Prior to joining Wood Mackenzie Robin spent 7 years in the power and coal industries in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Australia undertaking coal procurement, coal exploration, project development, geological and engineering roles. Robin also worked as a coal marketer selling thermal coal in Asia. Robin holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology and an MSc in Mining Engineering, from Camborne School of Mines, UK.

Sam Houston is a Business Executive in the mining industry, renowned for his pivotal roles at Rio Tinto and Eldorado Gold. With over 25 years in the industry he has delivered projects in every continent in the world except for Antarctica. With a commitment to people, sustainability, and technology, Sam has had a remarkable career delivering resilient growth strategies for enduring success. He is a seasoned change leader, well-versed in navigating growth environments, transforming underperforming portfolios into profitable enterprises, orchestrating stakeholder collaboration and developing high-performance teams. Sam's rich technical background in strategy and delivery is complemented by his functional expertise spanning strategy, leadership, business change, sustainability, digitalisation, and diversity and inclusion. As an entrepreneur, Sam has successfully launched Strategist Solutions, his own advisory practice, further showcasing his future focused, innovative spirit and dedication to driving industry progress and development. Sam holds a an engineering degree, a Master’s in Business Strategy and Leadership from Cranfield University in the UK, and various certifications including the Wharton Business School. Sam's contributions to the mining sector and his entrepreneurial endeavours make him an invaluable addition to our session, where we explore the intersection of technology, sustainability, people and major projects in the mining industry.

I study the social and political dimensions of resource extraction to inform dialogue, and policy- and decision-making. At UEF, I am examining the geopolitical and socio-environmental aspects of energy transition minerals from a global perspective, and the urban sustainability responsibilities emerging from energy transition mineral demand for mobility electrification. My previous posting was as Senior Research Fellow in the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Development Minerals Program, where I oversaw the establishment of an online knowledge exchange network for ASM miners and quarry workers – the Delve Exchange. My doctoral thesis dealt with Indigenous community participation in post-conflict mineral resource governance in Colombia. As part of this, I was a Visiting Endeavour Fellow at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Subsequently, I was a Rotary Peace Fellow at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. I held Research Fellow and Research Manager roles at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, where I worked on a broad suit of topics focusing on Latin American and Australian sites. I have been a consultant to NGOs and mining companies providing specialist knowledge and advisory services in connection to mining and development projects.

Rob Williamson is the Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer at Alpha HPA, with nearly 25 years’ experience in large facility operations and executive leadership. His pragmatic approach and strategic acumen have been instrumental in propelling the company's vertical integration strategy for advanced materials, contributing significantly to the decarbonisation of the tech sector. Rob is passionate about instilling a culture of accountability both in “what we do and how we treat each other” and sees it as a key to the success of any business.

Mark is responsible for international affairs and strategy for Rio Tinto’s battery materials business, as well as other critical minerals work for the Rio Tinto group. Mark has significant legal, strategic and stakeholder experience in the resources sector, working with major corporations, in governments, and across developed and developing jurisdictions. In Australia, Mark was an advisor to the Minister for Resources, Energy and Environment and an author of Australia’s first critical minerals prospectus.